PTI workers must take blame for Gujranwala clash: Saad Rafique

E-Paper | March 05, 2026

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) leader and federal minister Saad Rafique on Friday said the clash in Gujranwala occurred after PTI activists threw stones at and tore posters of Nawaz Sharif.

Our activists merely reacted in a similar manner but thankfully police came and controlled the situation.

Speaking to DawnNews via telephone, Rafique said the chief minister has ordered the IG to double Imran’s security.

Responding to a question, he said PML-N workers are haven’t lost their minds that they would pelt stones at PTI activists without being provoked.

“We gave them passage and security…why would we want to attack them,” the minister said.

The PML-N leader said that PTI leaders should convince their workers not to tear flags of other parties.

We have now told our workers to stay away from the areas so that they don’t have to experience provocation on behalf of PTI workers.

The clash was a local problem but PTI blew it out of proportion.

Pakistan

ECP summons interior minister over delay in LG polls in Islamabad

First polio case of 2026 reported from Sujawal District in Sindh

Govt refutes ordering temporary suspension of port entries in Pakistan

Ehtesham

Aug 15, 2014 02:34pm

Rafique sb now go a get a job to make an honest living. Your days as dallal is over

Recommend 0

Talha

Aug 15, 2014 02:34pm

Shame on Saad Rafique. How can the eye of camera tell lies? It is quite evident that supporters of PTI have been targeted by the goons of Nawaz league. Videos of Salman Ahmed of Junoon ducking, shoes thrown at the containers, hoardings of PTI mishandled, stones thrown at PTI workers who tried to run away from the goons. That is what I have seen on TV. Can't anybody see that? Can't anybody see this fake democracy? If PMLN can lie about this event that why can't it lie and steal the elections with ease?

Recommend 0

Khalil

Aug 15, 2014 02:42pm

Noora wisdom from Saad Rafique. Can you at least remain shut if you have nothing reasonable to say?

Recommend 0

asif

Aug 15, 2014 02:52pm

PML(N) supporters/workers were not supposed to go to see the march. what they were doing there Mr. Railways?

Recommend 0

asif

Aug 15, 2014 03:06pm

Tearing flags and throwing stones at a poster justifies throwing stones at human beings in retaliation, this coming from a democratic minister. Democracies protect freedom of expression and you can tear any flag or burn any poster you want, Saad rafique should work for Kim in north Korea.

Recommend 0

Courage

Aug 15, 2014 03:15pm

Shame on this man.

Recommend 0

Haroon Rashid Khan

Aug 15, 2014 03:25pm

the stone just fell from the sky. It was not PML N, really.

Recommend 0

Asghar

Aug 15, 2014 03:35pm

@Khalil Does this Joker ever have anything reasonable to say?

Recommend 0

Sajid Rabbani

Aug 15, 2014 03:39pm

One of the reason of all these anti-govt movements is his constituency.

Recommend 0

Muhammad

Aug 15, 2014 03:41pm

Shame on you Saad Rafique.

Recommend 0

Harmony

Aug 15, 2014 03:45pm

Why did you set Gullu Butts upon the march?

Recommend 0

Amir Mahmood

Aug 15, 2014 03:54pm

PMLN workers were using police transportation to pelt stones on PTI workers. Saad Bhai you want PTI workers to take blame for that?

Recommend 0

Courage

Aug 15, 2014 03:58pm

You mean we should disbelieve our own eyes, and trust your filthy tongue?

Recommend 0

observer

Aug 15, 2014 04:05pm

Shame on you. Stop lying there are pictures of plmn workers were standing on police cars while doing it!

Recommend 0

lol

Aug 15, 2014 04:06pm

Why is Railway minister passing such comments? Where is PMLN hierarchy?

Recommend 0

Malveros

Aug 15, 2014 04:50pm

How come the PAT followers passed through the same place peacefully ? PTI instigated it.

Recommend 0

Murad Maqbool

Aug 15, 2014 04:51pm

PML (N) workers deliberately attacked workers of PTI at Gujranwala and this act of cowardness is shameful and should be condemned on all forums. Salute to Imran Khan for his decision to carry out his protest march peacefully. As publicly announced by Mr. Shah Mehmood Qureshi that Saad Rafique is a liar so his statement has no weight and integrity.

Recommend 0

Buta

Aug 15, 2014 05:01pm

I am sad to listen Mr Railways comments for the last few days.He does not seem to be a a respectful and responsible person, who should be in the fedral government.He makes Pakistan leadreship a loughing stock for the whole world.

Recommend 0

Awais Tanvir

Aug 15, 2014 05:07pm

What a joke !!

Recommend 0

Awais Tanvir

Aug 15, 2014 05:07pm

@Talha Agree

Recommend 0

imtiaz khan

Aug 15, 2014 05:08pm

@Talha Shame on those who are out to derail the system and create chaotic situation leaving adverse impact on economy and poor masses. They are working on foreign agenda. They should defended in Los Angelus court. They are masters of distortions and hurling pack of lies. They have failed to accomplish their nefarious design and feel embarrassed.

Recommend 0

JackDomm

Aug 15, 2014 05:13pm

Honestly speaking why Mr.Saad Rafique is always so bitter

Recommend 0

salman

Aug 15, 2014 05:28pm

Does PML-N really want that PTI youth should start arming themselves with weapons in the future?

Recommend 0

Merchant

Aug 15, 2014 05:43pm

Khwaja Saad Saheb, you are the biggest certified vote rigger in recent elections. You have no honesty or credibility left so people of Pakistan are simply not going to believe you or your keepers the Sharif Dynasty.

Recommend 0

mian

Aug 15, 2014 05:50pm

Today I understood in plain words what stupidity means when I listened to this non sense politicians who does not care about credibility before speaking anything.Rubbish

Recommend 0

Asghar

Aug 15, 2014 05:57pm

@imtiaz khan if you want to keep this shameful system from being derailed then you have no clue what the poor masses are going through. So please understand the ground realities before giving Saad rafique type comments. Shame on those who in their right mind support family corporations like PML-N

Recommend 0

Lucky Star

Aug 15, 2014 06:23pm

@Ehtesham. Keep on dreaming. Stop following a leader who is neither truthful to his workers and supporter nor he won the election.

Recommend 0

Arif

Aug 15, 2014 06:30pm

@mian -- Ageed. as the saying goes "even a genius has limits, stupid has none'. If these guys knew the meaning of words like 'credibility', 'honesty' etc. etc, phir in ko yeh din nahi dekhne parte.

Recommend 0

Arif

Aug 15, 2014 06:35pm

@JackDomm: More than being bitter, it is ARROGANCE.

Recommend 0

Arif

Aug 15, 2014 06:36pm

@Harmony: The answer to that is simple. This is what they are good at.

Recommend 0

Arif

Aug 15, 2014 06:37pm

@Malveros: Because PAT is no threat to sharif Brothers. Imran is.

Recommend 0

atif

Aug 15, 2014 06:51pm

Can this guy just shut up ! I had seen his video when he was inside the Polling booths and now he is saying PMLn supportors were innocent?? What were those supporters doing when PTI were passing by?

Recommend 0

iqbal

Aug 15, 2014 07:09pm

If someone is attentionaly telling u lies then logic doesn't work to convince him. That is the case here with the statement of most respected janab Saad Rafique sb. So please my friend don't get agitated, forgive him for his too little mind.

Recommend 0

Riaz

Aug 15, 2014 07:12pm

That's right Mr. Saad - so PLMN workers were welcoming PTI!! why you couldn't tell your people to avoid the confirmation

Recommend 0

A True Fact

Aug 15, 2014 07:36pm

A simple quote comes to mind whenever I see his face; "Chupp Kurr"

Recommend 0

Jawad

Aug 15, 2014 07:53pm

Our activists merely reacted in a similar manner but thankfully police came and controlled the situation. When your activist knew about the rally. What were they doing there in the first place?

Recommend 0

Jawad

Aug 15, 2014 07:58pm

Pictures of PMLN activists on top of a police car says it all. Police and PMLNs activists are the same. Who is this guy kidding. I won't be surprised if those people on the police truck are actual police in without there uniforms. And now the same police will investigate them?

Recommend 0

Mustafa

Aug 15, 2014 08:23pm

Please do some thing for the railways...

Recommend 0

Naveed Rana

Aug 15, 2014 08:38pm

1. No PM resignation 2. No general elections before 2018 3. No technocrat/non-political setup 4. No in-house change. I would love to hear what IK/TQ have to say when they leave Islamabad without achieving any of the above. BTW, 12 people died in Peshawar today due to rain and government's inability to plan/react/protect the general masses. Or, may be, they were too occupied in rounding up people and transportation to march to Islamabad, that they didn't have time, energy, or resources to do do their job - to serve the people of KP, who voted for them, and gave them the opportunity to prove to the rest of Pakistan what they are capable of. Today PTI failed them miserably.

Recommend 0

Lucky Star

Aug 15, 2014 08:39pm

@Arif Not Ik, you are the biggest threat to NS because you are sitting on your laptop hurling abuses at him and his party members.

Recommend 0

Zain U Khan

Aug 15, 2014 08:56pm

@Ehtesham Totally agree. This man being minister of railways never talks about his performance regarding his own department,but always butts in and speak for other ministers by insulting & passing silly remarks about his opponents.Even N.Sharif & Shahbaz sharif don't speak much like this man S. Rafiq does,Please go to your own department and try to improve the public services of Pakistani railways. for which you are getting paid,

Recommend 0

Shafiq Ashraf

Aug 15, 2014 09:00pm

Lies, the whole world saw what happened. It was an unprovoked and planned attack with full support of police.

Recommend 0

Syed

Aug 15, 2014 09:41pm

Unbelievable! there is not limit to N league lies. crooks.

Recommend 0

Ali

Aug 15, 2014 10:24pm

Mr. Rafiq I feel shame sorry

Recommend 0

Parvez

Aug 15, 2014 10:27pm

One more dishonest statement..........matters not.

Recommend 0

Arif

Aug 15, 2014 10:58pm

@Mustafa - Please do some thing for the railways.!!! LOL ... he did. The rail engines they purchased went 'kaput' on the very first journeys.

Recommend 0

Muhammad Imran Afzal

Aug 15, 2014 11:00pm

If you use poor words for their leaders they will definitely take revenge

Recommend 0

Ebrahim

Aug 16, 2014 12:00am

@Muhammad They are shameless people and always talk nonsense. Punjab CM ordered enquiry into the incident and asked all N workers to close their offices when the marches are passing and this Saad is asking PTI to take blame. There is lack of communication between the two party workers i.e. CM and Saad.

Recommend 0

Lucky Star

Aug 16, 2014 12:14am

@Arif Railway will be completely revamped in four years. Be patient!

Recommend 0

Blitzer

Aug 16, 2014 12:40am

Khwaja Saad, is the picture of Nawaz Sharif so holy and sacred that the mere act of stone-pelting at the *picture* makes PML-N supporters lose their mind? That doesn't sound like a democracy to me.

Recommend 0

aki

Aug 17, 2014 06:46am

Shamless individual n his mean n shallow comments....these people...they still living in 90's n they take us as fools....Saad sb world has changed a lot since 90's u ppl just lack adaptation.If NS had been sure of that four halkas he wouldn't hve hesitated opening them....n now its outta his hands...let hope 28 yrs cancer infestation of punjab/pakistan by nooras come to an.early end.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Is your parents’ health insurance really complete?

Most plans only cover hospital stays. But what about a simple flu or a routine consultation? Here is why Jubilee General Parents Care Plus Plan is being called “Sub say complete coverage”.

Allied Bank sets new benchmark in customer experience with Pakistan’s first humanoid robot

This deployment aligns with the bank’s broader strategy to leverage emerging technologies to provide efficient, accessible and customer-focused banking solutions.